2007 Redoma Branco

The 2007 REDOMA BRANCO was aged for 8 months in French oak. It is mostly Rabigato, with a healthy dollop of Codega. The alcohol comes in at 12.7%. Refreshing and friendly, this is showing its oak a bit too much on opening, but I was surprised to see how quickly the oak integrated and how much steeliness the wine could project. It rounded into form quickly and should be drinking just fine on release. This has little intensity. I would tend to drink this on the young side for best results. There were approximately 1,335 cases produced. Drink now-2010. One of the Douro’s icons, as well as top estates, Niepoort presents a wide range of wines, paying serious attention to whites as well as reds, and occasionally dabbling with international grapes like Riesling and Pinot Noir. His upper level wines like Batuta and Redoma Reserva Branco are among the Douro’s most sought after trophies in most vintages. His 2006 white vintage was quite good, exceeding expectations. The reds seemed to me to suffer a lot from vintage conditions, although certain decisions, like eliminating Batuta and using the juice for Redoma, often resulted in wines not too far off the 2005 red marks. Importer: Martine’s Wines, Inc., Novato, CA.; tel: (415) 883-0400; except in New York/New Jersey: Eric Solomon, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565